College campuses across the US are currently overrun by protesters with many turning violent and leading to arrests.
Student encampments and building occupations are a result of groups demanding universities to divest from Israel funding or investors. Some universities have even canceled their main commencement ceremonies because of security concerns.
On April 27th, an anti-Israel protest took place at Penn State University’s main campus in State College, Pennsylvania. The protest was named “May Day for a Free Palestine” and was co-hosted by several groups, including Penn State Students for Justice in Palestine, Student Committee for Defense and Solidarity, United Socialists at Penn State, and the People’s Defense Front.
According to a student reporter, protesters carried signs that said, “ARL off campus”, “admin back war crimes”, and “divest from death”. Students marched to the Applied Research Lab “to highlight its presence in our area as an institution directly involved in the genocide against Palestinians.”
According to the same student news outlet, Penn State spokesperson Wyatt DuBois said the Applied Research Laboratory “does not provide funding to weapons manufacturers.” He explained that “ARL conducts applied research to address critical challenges facing our nation, focusing on innovation and implementation of new technologies that enable the United States to achieve national security.”
Students criticized Penn State University leadership throughout the protest and on social media platforms.
In October of 2023, Jewish students held a vigil for those lives lost in Israel and held hostage during the October 7th attacks by Hamas. The vigil consisted of peaceful prayer and song dedicated to hope for peace in Israel. According to student reporters, over 100 students attended the service.
It is unclear if these protests will continue during the summer months when students are typically not on campus full-time.
